Nearly 30,000 children at risk of losing food, child care, and early learning supports
LANSING, Mich. — As the federal shutdown has officially reached the milestone of being the longest federal government shutdown in history, Michigan’s critical service providers are warning that families are losing access to the programs that keep children healthy, fed, and learning, and that the economic fallout is impacting communities statewide, jeopardizing the stability of thousands of children, parents, educators, and employers.
“Right now, Michigan’s families are facing a crisis that is about more than just programs or policy. It’s about values,” said Alicia Guevara, chief executive officer of the Early Childhood Investment Corporation (ECIC). “When parents lose access to Head Start, children lose nutritious meals and opportunities to learn and grow, and early educators lose their jobs, the damage is both immediate and long-lasting. The shutdown is unraveling the very infrastructure that generations of Michigan families have relied on to be economically secure, healthy, and working.”
The federal shutdown is already disrupting access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), threatening benefits for more than 1.4 million Michiganders. Michigan’s early care and learning system, including Head Start, is also at risk. For the last 60 years, Head Start has provided early education, nutrition, and family support to nearly 30,000 children in 48 programs statewide. Nine of those programs, serving nearly 3,000 children, are currently without renewed federal funding and face potential closure if the shutdown continues. The Gogebic-Ontonagon County Head Start program shut down this week, affecting over 100 children and 22 staff members.
Across the state, Community Action Agencies, which provide child care, food, housing, and emergency assistance in all 83 Michigan counties, are being forced to cut back or close programs. In the Upper Peninsula alone, three agencies have begun laying off nearly 200 staff members, threatening critical supports for hundreds of children and families. Michigan’s 27 Community Action Agencies are doing everything possible to stretch resources and stay open, including shifting funds, tapping reserves, and seeking emergency local donations.
“This is not theoretical. We’re already seeing programs shutter, leaving families with nowhere to turn. The math doesn’t work when federal funds are frozen. We can’t fight poverty or keep families stable with our hands tied,” said Brian McGrain, executive director of Michigan Community Action. “When a Head Start classroom closes, it’s not just an education issue. Parents lose child care, children lose access to meals and developmental support, employers lose workers, and communities lose trusted institutions that have been anchors for decades. These closures will have cascading effects that reach every corner of our state.”
Research consistently shows that stable early care, early learning, and nutrition supports are among the most effective investments a society can make. Children who have access to consistent care and healthy meals are more likely to succeed in school, experience better lifelong health, and contribute more strongly to their communities and the economy.
Providers, parents, and advocates are urging Congress and the President to end the shutdown immediately, protect affordable health care, and restore funding for essential programs that help to ensure families and children can thrive — including Head Start, Early Head Start, SNAP, and the Community Services Block Grant — which sustain Michigan families and the local economies that depend on them.
“Every child deserves a strong start. Every family deserves the chance to work and thrive. Every community deserves stability,” said Tricia Grifka, president of the Michigan Head Start Association Board of Directors and early childhood services director of the Northeast Michigan Community Service Agency. “We call on our federal leaders to act now, because when we allow the safety net to unravel, we don’t just hurt families, we undermine the long-term trajectory of children’s lives and the health of our economy.”
To learn more about MCA and Michigan’s 27 community action agencies, visit www.micommunityaction.org. To learn more about Michigan’s early childhood system and ECIC, visit www.ecic4kids.org. To learn more about Michigan’s Head Start programs, visit www.michheadstart.org.
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The full press conference with speaker remarks can be downloaded here.
About the Early Childhood Investment Corporation
The Early Childhood Investment Corporation (ECIC) is Michigan’s leading public–private organization focused on improving early childhood outcomes. Established by the state to advance a comprehensive early childhood system, ECIC works with communities, businesses, policymakers, and families to increase access to high-quality, affordable childcare and early learning opportunities. Through innovative programs, research, and partnerships, ECIC helps ensure that every child in Michigan has the opportunity to thrive in school and in life. Learn more at www.ecic4kids.org.
About Michigan Community Action
Now in its 50th year, Michigan Community Action serves as the state association for the 27 Community Action Agencies in Michigan, which provide services in every corner of the state. Together, these agencies supported nearly 250,000 individuals in 2024 on their paths to economic security. For more information about Michigan Community Action and its member agencies, visit www.micommunityaction.org.